Valve

ABSTRACT

A valve which may be actuated automatically or by hand has a closure member located on the high-pressure side and opening against the direction of flow. A spring carried by the valve spindle is used to open the closure member. The tension of the spring may be varied by a threaded bush serving as a spring support and helically movable in the valve casing. The valve is particularly characterized in that the valve spindle carries the spring-engaged closure member with axial play which is freely suspended therefrom. The spindle carries a turn lock which can be released. A driver connection operable only in direction of rotation is provided between a spring support mounted in the valve casing and helically adjustable relatively thereto and the valve spindle. Thus when the turn lock is released, the spring support can be adjusted by turning the valve spindle.

United States Patent 1,974,254 9/1934 Allenetalflnm, 2.91l,l86 11/1959 Knoxmm.

[72] Inventor Wilhelm Strache Bremen, Germany 868,125

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek AtzorneyRichards & Geier [21] Appli No. (22] Filed 1 Oct. 21, 1969 Patented June 29, 1971 {731 Assignee Gustav F. Gerdts 1(.G.

. Bremen, Germany ABSTRACT: A valve which may be actuated automatically or m n m m w w m u u xn S aa s m vv n. mnewee c md m m ml m t .l me mw m .l ic h m wm m .mm n hw aa e o vd h n mb m r 0f m nm e d l m mm en fl c mbw w Cm m mA O edhde mwmbhcw mm addeydlw a b Sanrg mm m lm d e k n e m m em e m nmwb Bid 0. TU n u Psn S S a Sap S VJC o s i l mnehmh .mV fl ..m mowwm n S V .l a wa fi isha tmca ci nny e a abt mm mwm edev n dehrsila .1.1 e P bSrTSCSPa 2 2 2 mw u w 1. .l lulu 5 3 7- Zfle l l FF 8 m m m8 "6 m2 m7 6 2 3 8 H 5 a. m n H m m m m w m m M m m D u m r h 0 l 0 Lb C M S L e 0 n a- V4U I: F .l .l .1 11 4 2 l 0 5 5 5 5 rl 1. 1. r1

ble only in direction of rotation is provided between a spring y adjustable References Cited UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 1/1906 2/1911 support mounted in the valve casing and helical] al pring support can be adjusted by turning relatively thereto and the v ve spindle. Thus when the turn lock is released, the s the valve spindle.

984,994 Armstrong VALVE This invention relates to a valve which may be actuated automatically or by hand and which has a closure member located on the high-pressure side and opening against the direction of flow. The invention is particularly concerned with a valve of this type having a spring carried by the valve spindle which is used to open the closure member and the tension of which is variable by a threaded bush acting as the spring carrier and movable in the valve casing.

In known valves'of this type separate valve spindles are located at the closure member on the high-pressure and lowpressure sides. The spindle located upon the low-pressure side has an end projecting out of the valve casing and carrying a handwheel for the manual operation of the valve. The spindle on the high-pressure side carries a spring operable in the direction of opening the valve and connected with a spring support adjustable from the outside to vary the spring tension.

This valve is composed of a large number of separate parts, its assembly is rather complicated and its manufacture is expensive. The spindle located on the high-pressure side must be safely and securely sealed since it has a portion which extends outwardly for the adjusting device for the spring. Furthermore, the valve is of such large size that often expensive additional work is necessary when it is to be inserted into a pipe conduit. The large number of its parts causes operational difficulties and often results in breakage.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks prior constructions.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

in the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found advisable to provide a valve spindle car rying with axial play a spring-engaged closure member which is freely suspended therefrom. The valve spindle also carries a turn lock which can be opened. A driver connection operable only in direction of rotation is provided between a spring support mounted in the valve casing and helically adjustable relatively thereto and the valve spindle, so that when the turn lock is opened, the spring support can be adjusted by turning the valve spindle.

The construction of the present invention makes it possible to use only one valve spindle, preferably located at the low pressure side over to the closure member. Thus by eliminating the spindle located on the high pressure side with its seals and the corresponding parts ofthe casing, the valve of the present invention is made of a Substantially smaller number of parts and can be manufactured at considerably lower costs.

According to a particularly simple embodiment of the present invention the turn lock consists of two gripping jaws enclosing the valve spindle and so supported by the valve casing that they cannot rotate. The valve spindle has a free end extending out of the casing and provided with a handle for receiving a tool.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

IN THE DRAWING:

P10. 1 is a section through the valve of the present invenion;

FIG, 2 is a transverse section along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

The valve shown in the drawing has an upper casing portion 1 and a lower casing portion 2, The lower casing portion 2 has an inlet tube joint 3, and an outlet tube joint 42'. A closure slidable within the valve seat sleeve 7.

A valve spmdle 10 connected with the closure member 5 extends axially through the upper casing portion l and has screw threads meshing with a threaded sleeve 12 rotatably mounted in the upper casing portion 1 and provided with a hand wheel 11. The outwardly extending free end of the spindle is a handle, having, for example, the shape ofa rectangular piece M, for the insertion of a tool. Within the upper casing portion 1, the spindle 10 is provided with an openable lock 13 against turning, which is shown in FIG. 2. This lock consists of two tensioning jaws 16 held by screws 15 which enclose the spindle within an annular groove. The closure member Sis pressed by a spring 17 operating against the direction of the flow. The free end of the spring 17 is held by a support 18 adjustably connected by screw threads with the upper casing portion 1. The support 18 is provided with a groove 19 to permit a change in the spring tension. A member 20, such as a wedge, is carried by the valve spindle l0 and is slidable in the groove 19.

The closure member 5 has an inner space 21 onto which the spindle 10 extends, thereby providing a valve stroke.

When the valve is operated manually, the user turns the handwheel l1 and thereby rotates the threaded sleeve 12, so that the valve spindle 10 which is secured against rotation, will move axially and thus close or open the valve.

in case of automatic valve actuation, the spindle 10 is moved into a position which is located between the opening and closing positions of the closure member 5. The closure member will be held in the open position by the spring 17 until flow pressure acting in the closing direction will overcome the force of the spring 17.

The closing point of the closure member 5 can be varied by changing the spring tension. For that purpose, the lock 13 is released so that the spindle 10 can be rotated along with the sleeve 12 by the tool without axial movement. This will screw the spring support 18 upwardly or downwardly depending upon the direction of rotation, so that the position of the spring support will be changed, and, consequently, the extent of tension of the spring 17 pressing against the closure member 5.

lclaim:

1. A valve comprising a casing having an inlet joint and an outlet joint, a closure member for separating the inlet from the outlet, a valve spindle having a lower end, said closure member being suspended with play from said lower end, and openable lock engaging said valve spindle to prevent it from rotating, a spring support enclosing said spindle and having outer threads meshing with inner threads formed in said casing, and a spring engaging said spring support and said closure member, said spring support having an inner elongated groove, said spindle having a projection extending into said groove.

2. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lock comprises two tensioning jaws carried by said casing and engaging said spindle, and screws engaging said jaws.

3. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spindle has an upper end extending out of the casing and having the shape ofa tool-receiving handle.

4. A valve in accordance with claim 1, comprising a valve seat sleeve enclosing said closure member, said closure member having a shaft portion slidable in said sleeve. 

1. A valve comprising a casing having an inlet joint and an outlet joint, a closure member for separating the inlet from the outlet, a valve spindle having a lower end, said closure member being suspended with play from said lower end, and openable lock engaging said valve spindle to prevent it from rotating, a spring support enclosing said spindle and having outer threads meshing with inner threads formed in said casing, and a sprinG engaging said spring support and said closure member, said spring support having an inner elongated groove, said spindle having a projection extending into said groove.
 2. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lock comprises two tensioning jaws carried by said casing and engaging said spindle, and screws engaging said jaws.
 3. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spindle has an upper end extending out of the casing and having the shape of a tool-receiving handle.
 4. A valve in accordance with claim 1, comprising a valve seat sleeve enclosing said closure member, said closure member having a shaft portion slidable in said sleeve. 